THE A55 North Wales expressway is being used as a hi-tech "superhighway" to improve communication links between Deeside College and other further education colleges along the coast.

Computer experts at University of Wales, Bangor, have been given the goahead by the National Assembly to use fibre optic cables that run along the A55 from Halkyn to Bangor to develop a new slicker and quicker network system.

It will allow Bangor, NEWI in Wrexham and further education colleges along the coast to Deeside, to share courses and information.

And last night a university spokeswoman said the scheme would also lay the groundwork for possible connections to other public bodies such as police, health and local authorities.

"Upgrading information technology and communication links between further and higher educational establishments in North Wales will give the region the best communication links between the two sectors anywhere in the UK," she added.

Phil Brady, director of information services at Bangor, said getting National Assembly approval to use existing communication links along the A55 had been vital in helping to move the project forward.

" The region needs an improved communication infrastructure, for all manner of reasons, but the investment is hampered by a number of factors, such as the geography of the region and low population. In those areas not serviced by the fibre optic cable, we will be using microwave links," he said.

The project will come as a major boost to the Community University venture in North Wales which was set up to widen access to further and higher education.

As well as Bangor and NEWI it comprises Deeside College, Coleg Menai, Coleg Harlech, Coleg Meirionnydd/Dwyfor, Yale College, Wrexham, Llandrillo, Colwyn Bay, Llysfasi and the Welsh College of Horticulture at Northop.

Mr Brady said: "The new network will be able to connect video studios which can be used for teaching and conferencing. The group is at the forefront of applying new technology to enable busy networks to distinguish between data that needs to be delivered instantly - such as moving video-conferencing pictures and non urgent data, such as access to web pages and e-mail delivery.."